Michelin heavy duty inner tube

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That Heavy Duty tube, as others have said:
1) builds heat
2) more rotating weight

...my industrial manufacturing experience suggests that extra rotating weight may be VERY OUT OF BALANCE, by virtue of it’s not a design criteria.

JMWO
 
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Getting tubes to hold air is a real PITA these days and is SO frustrating.

When I were a lad tubes held air for YEARS. Checking tyre pressure was just something you did once in a blue moon, when you were bored, or showing off your detailed bike prep to your mates! These days, as I’m not a daily rider, it’s basically necessary to check before every ride.

If anyone has actual experience of quality tubes that HOLD AIR please do share...
 
Fast Eddie said:
Getting tubes to hold air is a real PITA these days and is SO frustrating.

When I were a lad tubes held air for YEARS. Checking tyre pressure was just something you did once in a blue moon, when you were bored, or showing off your detailed bike prep to your mates! These days, as I’m not a daily rider, it’s basically necessary to check before every ride.

If anyone has actual experience of quality tubes that HOLD AIR please do share...
Click to expand...

I must be using something decent as pressures on both my bikes seem to hold many months, assuming no big ambient temp changes. As stated earlier, im using Counteract Bead Balanced tubes on both bikes. 2 yrs on Commando and 1 on the Bonneville.
Usually check monthly and rarely seem to need top ups.
 
Does Nitrogen hold.pressure any better than compressed air?

I have some chrome caps with a big glassy "N" on them that came on my Duc, and whenever.the guy sees as I am filling free air he tells me that he has Nitro to fill them, and I shrug at him.
 
Tornado said:
I must be using something decent as pressures on both my bikes seem to hold many months, assuming no big ambient temp changes. As stated earlier, im using Counteract Bead Balanced tubes on both bikes. 2 yrs on Commando and 1 on the Bonneville.
Usually check monthly and rarely seem to need top ups.
Click to expand...
Thanks, they look very interesting, will give them a try.
 
I use IRC regular weight tubes and have for years. I give them a visual and hand test every ride and check with a gauge every couple of weeks. I tried installing heavy duty tubes once but my knuckles voted them out of the garage.
 
gortnipper said:
Does Nitrogen hold.pressure any better than compressed air?

I have some chrome caps with a big glassy "N" on them that came on my Duc, and whenever.the guy sees as I am filling free air he tells me that he has Nitro to fill them, and I shrug at him.
Click to expand...

It is supposed to and the reason given is the Nitrogen molecules are bigger than oxygen which makes up the best part of 21% of air, bigger molecules don't escape as easy, oh and apparently they don't grow as much when warmed, so the pressure stays more constant. Never tried it though.
 
Just for more confusion, there are Heavy Duty and Ultra Heavy Duty.
Ultra Heavy Duty is 4mm thick
Heavy Duty is 2.7 - 3mm thick depending on manufacturer.
Standard duty tubes are 1-2mm.

The original one Jerry had posted was the UHD, 4mm.
They are monsters. Off road oriented.
As mentioned, they are hard to balance. Off road doesn't care.

The HD's may not be so bad on a Road big.

I currently have IRC's inside a set of BT45's and have no issues maintaining pressure.

The Michelin with the overlapping seam opposite the valve stem looks like a nice choice.

Counteract Bead Balance Tube sounds intersesting. Not familiar with those.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Getting tubes to hold air is a real PITA these days and is SO frustrating.

When I were a lad tubes held air for YEARS. Checking tyre pressure was just something you did once in a blue moon, when you were bored, or showing off your detailed bike prep to your mates! These days, as I’m not a daily rider, it’s basically necessary to check before every ride.

If anyone has actual experience of quality tubes that HOLD AIR please do share...
Click to expand...

I don't. I get my tyres mounted by a local shop and they insist on using a new tube each time. Whatever brand they are using is as your post stated. Even if I ride once a week I have to check pressure before going out. I even bought a 10 gallon tank for that so I don't have to wheel my big compressor around the garage. I have a new rear tyre to be mounted soon and have bought a couple of these:

https://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tu...road-dual-sport-motorcycle-inner-tube/p/24148

I hope they hold air better than what's been on it.
 
Another option might be to use that leak sealer stuff, like RideOn and others. They claim to help tubes hold pressures better. Might also save your bacon from a sudden flat at speed.
 
I've also had good luck with the IRC inner tubes. Bikemaster tubes really leak like crazy and seem to be carried by most bike shops. I'm used to tires holding air for decades.
 
I recently fitted a pair of Avon Roadriders to my Commando and ordered a new pair of Avon tubes to fit with them.
The supplier did not have the rear Avon tube so supplied the equivalent Michelin Airstop Butyl. As the rear
Michelin was noticeably lighter than the front Avon tube I investigated and got the supplier to replace the heavy Avon
front with a Michelin. I weighed the returned front Avon tube as 1122g and the replacement front Michelin tube as 569g.
FWIW The Avon box stated they were natural rubber and the Michelin are butyl rubber. I have used Michelin tubes
for decades and not noticed they loose pressure more now than they used to as suggested by Fast Eddie. I probably check
tyre pressures more often these days than in the bad old days.

I'll leave it to the mathematicians to work out the effect of an extra 553g (1 lb 3 1/2 oz) whizzing around on a 19" wheel rim
and the effect on handling :rolleyes:
 
https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tube-tyres/

"Butyl Rubber
Synthetic rubbers are more resistant to oil, certain chemicals and oxygen, have better ageing and weathering characteristics, and good resilience over a wider temperature range. Butyl is less permeable than natural rubber so good for preventing air loss.

Natural Rubber
Natural rubber has good wear resistance, high elasticity, high resilience, and tensile strength. It has a good dynamic performance and low level of damping. However, it ages with time and has poor chemical, oil, and ozone resistance. It has poor resistance to elevated temperatures. Customers who want a heavy duty tube tend to go with the natural rubber ones."
 
Hi L.A.B, Thank you for the data from the Avon website. I was not not aware Avon did both nor
given the choice by my supplier of Butyl or natural rubber.
 
Thanks LAB. I now see why my dirt bike tires go flat, or very low and the street bikes hold their own.
Butyl vs Natural.
 
gortnipper said:
Does Nitrogen hold.pressure any better than compressed air?

I have some chrome caps with a big glassy "N" on them that came on my Duc, and whenever.the guy sees as I am filling free air he tells me that he has Nitro to fill them, and I shrug at him.
Click to expand...
Nitrogen air is illegal in my country ( I think ... ).
 
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